house·break·ing / ˈhousˌbrāking/ • n. the action of breaking into a building, esp. in daytime, to commit a crime.DERIVATIVES: house·break·er / -ˌbrākər/ n.

HOUSEBREAKING

The act of using physical force to gain access to, and entering, a house with an intent to commit a felony inside.

In most states, housebreaking that occurs at night constitutes the crime of burglary. Some statutes expand the definition of housebreaking to include breaking out of a house after entry has been achieved without the use of physical force, such as when access was gained under false pretenses.